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AA Mom And Kids Mickey Ice Cream Bar; DinoLand U.S.A.; animal kingdom
  • On Feb 13, 2008
    Margaret Asked Note: This answer was provided prior to the change to planDisney and may still contain references to Disney Parks Moms Panel.

    Experiences, policies, pricing and other offerings are subject to change and may have changed since the date of this answer.

    I will planning a first time trip with my husband and twins to WDW in Oct/Nov of 2009. How far in advance should we book things? My twins will be 2 1/2 by then, are there any suggestions as to where to stay, eat, etc.?

    It's never too early to start to plan. WDW is a huge place and there is a lot of information out there. Sometimes it takes a while to absorb all this information, so it's good to get started as soon as you can. As a beginning step, I would start with the purchase of three books:

    - The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World. Much like the Moms Panel, this gives very candid information about all things Disney. In my opinion this is an absolutely must-purchase item for any Disney traveler.
    - The PassPorter Guide to Disney World. This has the easiest to read maps of any guidebook I've seen. Very helpful for figuring out where things are.
    - The Birnbaum's Official Guide to Disney World. Good for the photos and the party line.

    These books are all available at major bookstores and on Amazon.com. I would also make myself familiar with the website allearsnet.com. This is the most comprehensive Disney website I have found. This is also currently the only place online to view menus for all the Disney restaurants.

    How far in advance to book things depends a bit on when you will be traveling. Disney will allow you to actually book rooms about a year and half in advance (call 407-W-DISNEY for the exact timing). If you plan to visit WDW during Christmas week, you're going to want to book as early as possible. If you're coming during value season, you might be able to book just a few months in advance.

    As far as meals go, most of the restaurants allow you to book 180 days in advance. During the last few years, this booking window has changed several times, so you should periodically check the WDW website for the latest information.

    Without knowing your budget, it's difficult to recommend specific hotels. If you write back to us and ask us opinions about a specific hotel or hotel category we'll be able to give you more information. We're here to help.
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Meet the Panelist: Erin, New York

I have three teenage daughters. We're DVC members obsessed with Disney travel. We've been to Walt Disney World countless times and have visited Disneyland & Disneyland Paris. We've taken several Adventures by Disney and Disney Cruise trips. Learn More About Erin

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